Monday, March 26, 2012

A huge thank you goes out to our Honduran Family, the Paredes. They helped us paste, drive us around to sites, let us take over their living room with all our prints, and were just as excited as we were to get the project up and going. We couldn't have done this without them. They are the base of our inspiration in Progreso and always will be and we love them dearly.

Thank you all for the support that you have given us through out our project La Fuerza Silenciosa! We couldn't be more grateful!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Today we went with our close friend Dr. Guillermo Mahchi, pharmacist and amazing artist to finish up our last pastes. He was an amazing help telling us which walls still needed something to make the flow of images on the Boulevard more consistent. I would have to say he was our curator today- which was a great help because we needed a outside artistic opinion on our last day to tie everything together.

We were definitely exhausted and so happy by the end of the day. We are done! It's hard to believe. We were then interviewed on the local television station Teleprogreso explaining the project and our motive behind why we would focus on the women of El Progreso.

So there are now 50 images of women though the town of El Progreso! The dialogue has begun and we couldn't be happier.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Today was totally surreal! I don't think either of us would have ever imagined this could even happen. But after a meeting with the Mayor and getting his approval of the project. We basically had free reign of the main road in El Progreso's center. And not only that but the help of the amazing Firefighters Wilmer and Mairena, both of which have served in Progreso 30 years combined. With their help we were able to hit all the higher walls which was exciting because we saved most of our larger prints for the center. We also took Day 3 and 4 to plan how and where we were going to post our images along with take some time to think about how we can elaborate creatively and create some fun details with cut outs, spray piant, and decorative attachments.

We were also joined by Ivo Oliveira, who was perfect to have around when we had to do some serious problem solving with some of the larger or more delicate pastes. There were a couple points where things just seemed like we weren't sure if we were going to be able to get a certain print up because it was ripping in the wind and wet with wheatpaste already and we were all just tired from working in the scorching sun all day, but together we pushed through. What I realized is the patience needed for the larger pieces. They take so much longer then you would expect and they are never easy to line up unless you are calm and take your time- no room for panicking even when it is ripping. But I think we did a good job switching off and everyone took the wheel at some point that day and was supported by the rest.

It was such a different experience from the days prior. There would be a crowd around us as we are trying so desperately to get this 12ft. peice to line up with all it's parts or to get that lacey frame up around the photo of Doña Elvira. But we got everything done that we wanted to... and we still have 10 more to go for tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

We had another great day in the community. We were kind of surprised how easy it has been to get permission to paste on their walls from people we didn't know . But after some conversations people seemed really curious about what we were doing. This morning one of the Arroyo water men asked what was going on in the barrio and he said when he had seen the woman on the side of the house he thought she was missing...haha. He soon realized there were a bunch of women posted as he did his rounds. He joked with us and said "Are ALL of these women missing?!" The questions have definitely begun to buzz in our neighborhood. We are happy to see people stop and taking interest in the project.

Since Friday there has been an insane amount of awesome. Honestly, is has been a little surreal. But today, something happened that was not so awesome, in fact it was pretty bad.

Alicia, Joche and I were pasting the last set of images at a nearby school. I brought my video camera, because it is small and fits in my pocket like a cell phone. Long story short, a man on a red motorcycle pulled up and robbed us. It was quick, and felt a little too much like an old routine.

He stole the camera and rode off into the distance.

He didn't show me a gun, I am not even positive he had one. But having been held up before, I am more than ok with it staying hidden; especially with kids around.

Afterwards we stopped by a friends house to get ride of the nerves,and soon a familiar refrain began-"You shouldn't have gone to the house alone.", "I shouldn't have brought my camera." "I should have saved all that awesome footage. " should haves and shouldn't haves fill your thoughts and conversations. I knew all the risks.

But here is the deal, it is nobodies fault but the man on the moto. That is the end of it. He chooses to steal.

That is why projects like this are important. We are trying to recognize the women who live here. Who also get assaulted, who also carry a little money just I case they get robbed, who worry when children don't come home on time at night because of all the ugly possibilities.

So my camera, whatever. At least we weren't hurt. I can buy another camera. I am here because, "No quieren vivir asi, pero quieren vivir aqui" or "They don't want to live like this, but they want to live here."

Monday, March 19, 2012

Our first day out pasting was amazing! We got permission with so much ease and enthusiasm. It has been so exciting to see how the community responds to the images. They will stop on there bikes, walk up, and just watch us- and they are never afraid to ask questions. It has been a great way to start a dialogue about their perspective on all that women do in this community. Check out more pictures on our Facebook page InsideOut | El Progreso, Honduras.

On Saturday, Alicia and I asked El Abuelo if he could clean up the folliage covering the top of a wall by the church where we would like to paste a few images. El Abuelo, who is 84, picks up the occasional job around the neighborhood cutting grass and cleaning up yards; making him the perfect candidate to cut a few vines and leaves off of a large tree in the church yard.

He thought he would have time Monday or Tuesday. So Alicia and I didn't mention it immediately to the women of the church. However, around 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, El Abuelo passed through the living room mumbling about how he found a ladder and helper. Alicia and I were in the middle something and didn't pay him much mind.

A few hours later, El Abuelo come back and asked us to check it out. To our shock/surprise/terror, El Abuelo, his 14 year-old helper and 1 machete had cut down half of the tree in the church yard! Alicia and I were a little nervous to hear what the women of the church would say.

Ana, out host mom and active church member, came home and was a little "asustada" (frightened) but mentioned that story of Abuelo's "landscaping" was already spreading. Thankfully, they are quick to laugh and forgive.

But I mean really, he was so proud:

It was just a reminder that the people here are very supportive, and VERY enthusiastic.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Life has it's ways of sneaking in and changing plans especially when you haven't seen so many loved ones and want to give them the time they deserve. So there has been a bit of a delay in pasting BUT we are excited to start today with our new assistants.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Everything is slowly coming together. We're both finally here in El Progreso- we have our prints-our supplies- now to just secure more instillation sites. We've already begun to see some great areas we can paste and talked to people who want these images on their walls. The excitement has grown now that we can show the blown up photos to people...it's definitely no longer just an idea.

I arrived in El Progreso this past Thursday night. And the amazing family we have both lived with and I are awaiting Kat's arrival anxiously. She is bringing 33 pounds of paper (!!!) ready to be pasted. She was able to explain our project to a Kinko's in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that were impressed by the project (and I'm sure her charm) and they gave us a great deal on the printing! So a big THANK YOU goes out to them!!!

Both Kat and I have been huge fan's of JR's for quite a while. So it's easy to understand that when we saw the above video through TED, we knew we wanted to be a part of his new global public art project- INSIDE OUT. After a couple conversations we applied to create La Fuerza Silenciosa. We are so appreciative and excited that we could be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Below is a trailer for the movie JR is creating about this project.

While living in El Progreso we worked with various demographics, but were continuously struck by the silent strength of women in the community. We have photographed these women and will be pasting their portraits up in the center of town as well as their neighborhoods to give homage to their strength and struggles. We are hoping this starts a dialogue about all that women actually do. Las Progreseñas, or the women of El Progreso are the foundations of their communities. They are the teachers, mothers, nurturers, and fighters for future of this town.

We plan on wheat pasting at least 40 black and white portraits of these women at the end of March. The first week of April is "Semana Santa," Holy Week or Spring Break, when many people coming from out side cities and even internationally pass through El Progreso to get to the coastal beach towns. We figured this would be the best time to take advantage of the heavy traffic so more people will have the possibility of seeing this project.

Because this project has taken life with the great reaction of the people of El Progreso , this will be quite an event, so we need your help. Your donations will go to printing costs, scaffolding, pasting materials, and brushes.